Sacrificial Blessings

Luke 14:33b – . . . any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. (NIV)

I prayed an impossible prayer. I cried to God, day and night, for a home in which my family could live for free. Free was all we could afford. The door to Tanzania had just closed, our house in another state hadn’t sold, neither my husband nor I had a job, and we lived with my in-laws. The stress weighed heavy.

In an amazing feat, God answered our prayer. After months of lifting my concern in prayer, my husband brought home the news that an elder from our church felt led to allow us to use his old place of business, which was a house, for us to live rent and utilities free. That house was a blessing. This allowed us to continue to pursue our desire for missions.

More recently, I prayed for our family of four to be able to purchase⎯a term I use lightly⎯a second car. Because my husband and I are still missionaries, it needed to, again, be free. Unbelievably, God answered. Another missionary family decided to pass to us the free car they had received several years before. That car was a blessing. Despite the cost of gas, we are now able to juggle our schedules and save a little by not using our thirsty SUV.

I use these examples, because more than anything, I want people to understand the definition of a blessing. Houses, cars, vacations, etc. . . can be considered blessings, but in today’s society, we often slap a label of blessing on materialism⎯all the extra things society says we must have. We’ve reversed the order of things. God never meant for a blessing to replace sacrifice.

What can you cut out of your life that has kept you from helping the advancement of God’s kingdom? Lattes everyday? Extra pairs of shoes? Eating out? Latest toys? This is just to name a few.

From my own testimony, I can tell you, in giving up everything, God has showered me with the most awesome opportunities I would’ve never had if I held on to things I couldn’t keep anyway. Don’t miss true blessings. Sacrifice opens up the door to so much more. The world with its luxury cars, mansions and stuff will leave you empty if you aren’t using them for God’s glory. I challenge you to search your heart and give your all.

Dear God, help me to make wise decisions with the resources you’ve entrusted to me. I desire to know the definition of blessings even if it costs me everything.